NEW CUMBERLAND – Hancock County voters decided Tuesday night that current county Sheriff Scott Gittings deserves a second term.

The Republican incumbent defeated his Democratic rival Dezso Polgar by 7,758 votes to 4,856, according to unofficial election results.

Gittings said, when contacted Tuesday night, that he is pleased with the results and thanked the public for their continued support.

He ran on a platform of increasing drug arrests and improvements to county equipment such as cruisers, bulletproof vests, body and dash cameras, as well as better benefits for officers to retain officers and attract new ones. .

Gittings’ roughly four decades of law enforcement experience includes stints with the sheriff’s department, as well as the New Cumberland and Chester police departments.

Three uncontested races also appeared on the ballot for Hancock County voters.

They included:

Hancock County Commission: Tommy Ogden, Republican, 10,688

Prosecutor: Steven Dragisich, Republican, 11,184

County Assessor: Joseph Alongi, Democrat, 9,728